INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- An Indiana legislative committee has dropped a proposed requirement that all public and charter schools have a gun-carrying employee during school hours.

The House Ways and Means Committee voted 16-7 on Tuesday to advance to the full House the bill that keeps the provisions for armed civilians in the schools, but allows school districts to decide each year whether they want to opt out. The bill would keep those school district decisions confidential.

Supporters of having employees such as teachers or principals being armed say it would lessen the vulnerability of schools to violent attacks such as the December elementary school shooting in Connecticut.

Critics of the proposal raised concerns about entrusting civilians with duties best left to police officers.